Fancy a lithium-ion powered plug-in hybrid?

[clett]

Then take a look at the next model Prius! Truly astounding if true....

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/68124/pr...urbo_boost.html

Quick summary: lean-burn 1.8-litre engine, THS-II hybrid system, lithium-ion batteries, plug for recharging at home, price about the same as current Prius.

[brandon]

The above post links to an article that requires registration. However, there are a few blogs talking about the same article, no registration required.

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/next-pr...rged-178746.php

[ggood]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brandon @ Jun 6 2006, 01:39 PM) [snapback]266774[/snapback]</div>

The above post links to an article that requires registration. However, there are a few blogs talking about the same article, no registration required.

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/next-pr...rged-178746.php
[/b]

or read it here:
Tuesday 30th May 2006
Prius to be given turbo boost

Our insiders have blown the cover on a turbocharged prototype which is being tested in Japan. Auto Express was the first magazine to reveal plans for a 100mpg-plus successor to the Prius in issue 904 - and now we can spill the beans on how it will be done. In its efforts to come up with a car that blends economy, low emissions and performance at an affordable price, Toyota has decided to use a lean-burn 1.8-litre turbo engine. Meanwhile, the THS-II hybrid system will be upgraded with efficient lithium ion batteries, which will allow the electric motor to deliver greater performance because the cells recharge quickly and hold more power for longer. To further improve efficiency, it's also thought that Toyota is considering a plug-in system, similar to that used on the Amberjac Projects Prius. The socket will allow owners to top up the battery when it's parked. Insiders at Toyota are excited about the newcomer, and are promising greater performance and super-low emissions for less than £20,000.

[hyo silver]

I more or less expected the plug and the Li-Ion batteries, but the turbo is very interesting. I wonder if the parts will work on an older model? To increase efficiency and compensate for altitude, of course.

[Karkus]

Great news, but let's be carful about UK mpg numbers. 100 mpg is valid in the UK, but not in the US, where a gallon is smaller. 100mpg UK = (only) 83 mpg US.

(I often see "inflated" MPG claims (especially on diesel discussion boards) when people take UK numbers and assume they apply to the US - yet another reason to go metric).

[Tideland Prius]

I'm sceptical about the turbocharger. I thought Toyota was NOT going to make any more turbocharged cars after the current.. umm.. Caldina, I think, gets a new engine. Honda is going turbo, however, so we might see a turbo IMA car but yeah.. Toyota... maybe not. Also, will it be a new 1.8 litre cause the current 1ZZ-FE engine is dead and will be replaced by a new 2.0 litre.

[Dr Why]

Meanwhile, the THS-II hybrid system will be upgraded with efficient lithium ion batteries, which will allow the electric motor to deliver greater performance because the cells recharge quickly and hold more power for longer.
**********
lets talk about batteries.
Ni-Cad & Ni-MH can be recharged 1000 times(full drain to full charge)(and have 'memory problems')
(and self discharge )and low internal resistance-can deliver HIGH amperage
lithium ion can only take 100 full cycles (and have better weight to A/hr capacity, and are less prone to
self-discharge. higher internal resistance = lower amperage.
also more sensitive to charging conditions = have been known to explode)
I hope they have a lithium cell that overcomes these problems

[darelldd]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dr Why @ Jun 6 2006, 05:56 PM) [snapback]266986[/snapback]</div>

I hope they have a lithium cell that overcomes these problems
[/b]

Good news. They will. Looked into Li-Ion Power tools lately?

[etyler88]

Well 83 mpg, Li-ion and plug in are all good. I am worried about the ice. Larger displacement, 1.8 vs. current 1.5; how does that save gas? A turbo? That does not sound reliable or durable. I could see the turbo if there was a drop in engine size. Sounds like Toyota is trying to increase the performance (0-60 times)with a mpg increase. So if We kept the current ice or used a turbo with, say, 1.0 displacement and no increase in acceleration maybe we would get 100 mpg. I like that scenario more. We need to make Toyota favor mpg and durability to acceleration. Who is the Priuschat-Toyota liason?

[clett]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(etyler88 @ Jun 7 2006, 12:00 PM) [snapback]267261[/snapback]</div>

I am worried about the ice. Larger displacement, 1.8 vs. current 1.5; how does that save gas?[/b]

I recall reading some time back that some senior Toyota engineers wanted to put in a real Atkinson cycle engine in the next Prius - not just a simulated one with late inlet valve closing like they have in the current Prius.

By real Atkinson cycle, I mean like this:



(Linked from this website: http://www.keveney.com/Engines.html)

Notice the completely alien set up of connecting rods - nothing like your standard Otto cycle then! To get the same power output as the current 1.5, it would have to be a bigger displacement engine, perhaps also with forced induction. The reward for all this would be much improved engine efficiency.

However I doubt that Toyota would actually go this far. Nobody has ever put an Atkinson cycle on the road and got it to work (yet).